25 YEARS AGO/1981
'Arrears' claims insulting
AN Omagh DUP councillor has claimed that a Housing Executive computer error has meant that many tenants in the district have received statements showing their accounts to be in arrears - when, in fact, they were not.
The allegation was made by Cllr Oliver Gibson who said that he had been shown a number of such statements which outlined various amounts of arrears ranging from £10 to £29.
"These computerised balance sheets did not take into account the readjusted rent rebates and are completely misleading. There are upwards of 4,000 Housing Executive tenants in the Omagh District Council area and many of them are elderly people, who would be very conscious of their rent responsibilities and this sort of thing would probably disturb them."
Hotel fire malicious – owner
THE Omagh-born owner of the Bundoran hotel destroyed by fire in August, 1980, killing ten people claims it was started maliciously. Dermot Kinlan SC, for Patrick Barrett owner of the Central Hotel, said this in his opening address before Judge Sean O'Hanrahan. The owner is claiming IR£1.25 million for the loss of the hotel and its contents. Garda forensic experts, however, believe the fire started because of an electrical fault.
Mr Kinlan admitted to the court that the electrical fittings in the hotel were "in a very bad way." These would have contributed to the spread of the fire, he said, as would the beautyboard and studded panelling used in the premises. But his contention was that the fire was deliberately started.
50 YEARS AGO/1957
Man awarded for bravery
"IT is a very fortunate thing that we have in our country young men like you who are prepared to risk their lives in rescuing their neighbours; undoubtedly you showed a very high order of courage in going down this well when you knew it was highly dangerous," said TD Elliott RM. He was addressing Robert Thomas Falls, a 22-year-old builder from Tempo who was presented by the RM with the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal and certificate for gallantry displayed by him in rescuing a man from a well which was filled with poisonous fumes. On October 8, 1956, Mr Falls descended a 35-foot well which was filled with fumes from the engine of a pumping plant and rescued two men who had been overcome by the fumes. One of the men, Edward Anderson from Fivemiletown, was dead but the other, his employee Joseph Heron, recovered due to the efforts of Mr Falls.
Policeman injured in bomb
ALL police leave was stopped in the Six Counties over the Easter weekend and police, together with Specials and military, patrolled main roads, railway lines and bridges and guarded important centres. A police constable was seriously injured by a booby-trap bomb, a cyclist who failed to answer a call was shot in the foot by a police patrol, and unsuccessful attempts were made to burn down a border customs post and an electricity sub-station in Easter weekend incidents. The policeman was injured when he was removing a Tricolour from the top of a 50-foot high water tower on the disused aerodrome at Cluntoe, Co. Tyrone.
75 YEARS AGO/1932
Police outwitted in the North
FRUSTRATED by the police in previous weeks, Northern cock-fighters, determined to carry out their "battles," selected a quiet spot near the River Blackwater in the Maghery district.
Men came in motors from all over the Six Counties, while others were present from Cavan, Monaghan and other parts of the Free State. Ten "mains" were fought between Antrim and Tyrone, the Antrim roosters winning. There was a huge gathering but, strange to say, the police did not put in an appearance. The secret had been well kept.
Newtownstewart bridge open
THE new Abercorn bridge, Newtownstewart, which replaces the old iron bridge washed away by the floods some years ago, was formally opened. The bridge, which cost £11,700, and connects the town of Newtownstewart with the railway station, was erected by the Tyrone County Council. Constructed in reinforced concrete, it extends for a length of 238 feet over the River Mourne.
Man jailed in Dungannon
AT a Special Court in Dungannon, Pat Doherty, who gave his address as Nelson Street, Derry, was charged with the larceny of an overcoat, valued £6, the property of E. Finney, manager of Messrs Stevenson and Sons, Dungannon.
Evidence was given by Mr Finney that the coat was removed from the reception-room at the Dungannon warehouse. Accused pleaded guilty, and said he was drunk at the time. He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.
100 YEARS AGO/1907
Dromore dog burglar in 'quad'
THE famous dog burglar has been taken into custody. He was a native of Dromore, and was sent to a new owner seven miles distant, but arrived back in Dromore a few days previous to his arrest.
During his career in Dromore, he was known to carry off loaves, hams and pieces of bacon from grocer's shops without being detected. On one occasion (writes our correspondent) he went into a grocer's shop and while the latter was preparing his breakfast, 'Kruger', as he is locally known, pounced upon a fine piece of Irish roll containing leaves between 7lbs and 8lbs. and vanished, carrying it by the cords with which it was bound.
He was still well fed but had an extraordinary habit of "looking for more".
Had Dick Turpin aspirations
THE appearance of two young lads aged 14 and 17 before the Stockton Magistrates on a charge of stealing three bicycles was attributed to their reading 'penny dreadfuls'. According to the admissions of the boys, who are respectably connected, the elder had been urged on to the thefts by the younger with the remark, "We won't be caught; Dick Turpin never was."
The court bound them over upon the first of the three charges, and fines them 5s each upon the other two.
– NIGEL McDONAGH
